Ideas

A deep dive into the science and mystery of flow, the state of total absorption where time disappears. Researchers and athletes explain the conditions, rituals and training that make hyper-focus possible. Neurochemistry, decision-making, and the role of environment and self-talk are explored. The program also questions commodified flow and the need for balance after intense focus.

Jennifer Welsh, Canada Research Chair in Global Governance and Security and director at McGill’s public policy school, speaks on middle-power strategy and soft power. She discusses coalition-building among like-minded states. She explores Canada’s cultural and institutional assets, credibility gaps from inconsistent follow-through, and how to pair soft and hard power to rebuild trust and influence.

Joshua Seeley Harrington, law professor who studies how legal institutions preserve inequality. DiNardo Jones, criminal defence lawyer and law professor on legal aid and prosecutorial power. Crystal Lehman, Beaver Lake Cree Nation advisor on treaty-rights litigation barriers. Marcel Wilson, community organizer who left organized crime. Ed Hertrick, formerly incarcerated author sharing lived justice-system experience. Mitchell Stewart, investigative reporter and narrator. They discuss unequal access to lawyers, plea pressure, cost barriers to litigation, and limits of colonial courts.

Chloe, a low-income mother who lost custody after a contested trial, shares the emotional and financial fallout. Jennifer, a parent turned legal advocate, recounts years representing herself and now pushes for court alternatives. Lenny Abramowitz, a legal advocate, explains how professionalized law and unaffordable counsel skew access to justice. They discuss wealth shaping outcomes, self-representation struggles, and systemic reforms.

Michael Slote, moral philosopher who studies care and ethics; Susan Lanzoni, historian of empathy and psychology; Matt Richins, psychologist and neuroscientist studying group dynamics; Pauline Dakin, journalist and maker of The Battle for Empathy. They explore empathy’s history, neuroscience, its fragility under fear, debates over whether it biases moral judgment, and programs that teach empathy in classrooms.

Rutger Bregman, Dutch historian and bestselling author, issues a fiery warning about unrestrained AI and technology. He explores how tech has reshaped human nature, likens modern platforms to addictive forces, and calls for moral revolutions and limits to protect dignity, attention and democracy. Short, urgent reflections on danger, hope and collective responsibility.

In this engaging discussion, Tom Howell, a producer and reporter behind 'The Way of the Trucker,' teams up with Jacques Picotte, a truck driving instructor in Timmins. They explore the looming shortage of truckers in Canada and the reasons behind it, highlighting how many recruits are immigrants seeing new opportunities. Jouk shares insights from in-cab training sessions while discussing the cultural significance of trucking, including its impact during the 2022 protests and the industry's evolving safety standards.

A reframe of the Great Famine that places the potato within a wider story of colonialism and market failure. Discussion of how crop choice, land tenure and conacre speculation created structural vulnerability. Examination of British relief policies, moralizing views of food, and how emigration, rents and seasonal rhythms shaped survival and collapse.

Lucy Inglis, an English historian with 15 years of research on childbirth, shares her fascinating insights into the history of birth. She highlights the ancient practices, including the roles of women as birth assistants and the cultural rituals surrounding childbirth. Lucy discusses the evolution of pain management and how societal attitudes toward childbirth have changed, revealing that despite medical advances, disparities remain globally. Personal birth stories from diverse backgrounds showcase the intimate realities of motherhood and the enduring journey of women through history.

Rutger Bregman, a Dutch historian and author known for his works on democracy and human nature, discusses the power of small, committed groups in driving change. He warns against public apathy, linking it to the rise of authoritarianism. Bregman shares inspiring stories of historical moral pioneers like William Wilberforce and advocates for a 'conspiracy of decency' to strengthen liberal democracy. He outlines a bold vision for a fairer social contract, emphasizing the need for perseverance and collective action to create a more just future.